Book and game combination device and method for using the device

ABSTRACT

A book and board game combination device that allows a user to transport an entire board game in a book form. The device can comprise a book and a board for a board game coupled to said book. There can also be at least one container coupled to the book. There can also be a plurality of game pieces disposed in the container and being selectively removable from the container for use with the board in the board game. The game pieces can include at least one card, at least one interactive element such as clay or dough, at least one timer, at least one spinner, and at least one playing piece which can be used to identify a particular player. There can also be a method for playing a game which can include opening a book, presenting a game board coupled to the book, removing a playing piece from a container, answering a question and then selectively moving the playing piece on the game board in response to the answer to the question.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a book and game combination device thatallows a user to transport an entire board game in a book form. Theinvention can also relate to a method for playing a game using a bookand a game such as a board game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a book and game combination device that allowsa user to transport an entire game in a book form. In one example, thedevice can comprise a book and a board for a board game coupled to thebook. There can also be at least one container coupled to the book.There can also be a plurality of game pieces disposed in the containerand being selectively removable from the container for use with theboard in the board game. The game pieces can include at least one card,at least one interactive element such as clay or dough, at least onetimer, at least one spinner, and at least one playing piece which can beused to identify a particular player.

There can also be a method for playing a game which can include openinga book, presenting a gaming surface coupled to the book, removing aplaying piece from a container, and then starting the game. One optionalstep can include answering a question and then selectively moving theplaying piece on the game board in response to the answer to thequestion. This optional step may involve answering the question bywriting the answer on a writing surface or by manipulating a malleableelement to create a three-dimensional figure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that thedrawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as adefinition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similarelements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the device;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side perspective view of the device with the board in aclosed position;

FIG. 4 shows a front close up view of the receptacle of the device shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1 takenalong the line I-I;

FIG. 6A is a front view of the device shown in FIG. 1 in its closedposition;

FIG. 6B is a back view of the device shown in FIG. 1 in its closedposition;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the device;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the devicewhich includes a side sliding board;

FIG. 9 shows a front perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 8 in aclosed manner;

FIG. 10 shows a back view of the device shown in FIG. 8 in a closedposition; and

FIG. 11 shows a front view of another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a device 10 whichcan be in the form of a book and game combination which can include ahousing 12 shaped as a book, a playing surface such as a board 20 for aboard game, and a plurality of game pieces 30, which can be storedinside of a container or receptacle 40. Other optional features caninclude an additional container or receptacle 50 which can be used tostore a timer 37. There can also be a tabbed booklet 60, and a writingbook 70 which can be stored inside of a pouch 72.

A closure 80, formed integrally with housing or book 12, can be used toselectively close the book so that it remains closed until opened.

Housing or book 12 can include a first cover a second cover and a spinewherein the first cover and the second cover are coupled to the spine.In this example, the first cover is shown as a front cover 14 and thesecond cover can be shown as a back cover 16 wherein front cover 14 iscoupled to back cover 16 via a spine 18. Front cover 14 can include aninside face 14 a and an outside face 14 b (See FIG. 6A). Back cover 16can also include an inside face 16 a and an outside face 16 b (See FIG.6B) while spine 18 can include an inside face 18 a, an outside face 18 b(See FIG. 7) and also be coupled to front cover 14 and back cover 16 viahinges or creases 18 c and 18 d. (See FIG. 2) Hinges 18 c and 18 d canbe in the form of a living hinge which allows a continuous cover that isfoldable along an axis. However, these hinges can be formed in any knownway as well.

Coupled to housing 12, is a game board 20 which can include a tab 22 andat least one game board section 24. There can be an additional gameboard section 26 which can be coupled to first section 24 via a hinge28. Additional game board section 26 can fold over first game boardsection 24 via hinge 28 wherein this game board can be slidablyinsertable into a slot, housing or receptacle 29 which is coupled tohousing 12 (See FIGS. 2 and 3). In this case, housing 29 can be in theform of. a three sided housing which has at least one open end to allowgame board 20 to slide out therefrom. In this example, game board 20 canslide open from receptacle 29 in a direction parallel to a longitudinalaxis of spine 18. However, the invention can be designed so that thegame board 20 can also slide out from housing 12 in a directiontransverse to the longitudinal axis of spine 18 as shown in FIG. 2.

There are also a plurality of game pieces 30 which can be used to playon or with game board 20. Game pieces 30 may include one or more of thefollowing elements: a spinner 32, at least one card 34, which caninclude a plurality of game cards positioned in different stacks, atleast one writing instrument 36.which can include an erasable marker 36a and/or an optional pencil 36 b, a timer 37, and at least one playingpiece or game marker 38 which can include a plurality of playing piecesor game markers 38 a, 38 b, 38 c, 38 d. There can also be at least oneinteractive element 39 (See FIG. 2) which can be malleable, formable, oradaptable. For example, this interactive element 39 may be in the formof a putty, moldable clay, or dough like substance that may be moldableinto different shapes.

There is also at least one receptacle, container or holder 40 which canbe formed from any known material but could be formed from a plasticblister packaging type material which has a plurality of indents, whichcan be used to hold game pieces 30. Receptacle 40 can be coupled toinside face 14 b of front cover 14 of housing 12. As shown in FIG. 4,receptacle 40 can include one or more of the following components: aspinner holder 42 for spinner 32, at least one card holder 44 which caninclude a plurality of card holders, 44 a, 44 b, 44 c, 44 d, for aplurality of cards 34 a, 34 b, 34 c, 34 d; at least one writinginstrument holder 46 which can include instrument holders 46 a and 46 bwhich can be used to receive the associated writing instruments 36 a and36 b.

A shown in FIG. 1, additional container 50 has a cover 52 which can becoupled to container 50 via a hinge 54. Hinge 54 can be in the form of aliving hinge that allows cover 52 to rotate up and out from container50. There can also be a cover 56 which is adapted to fit over receptacle40 so that game pieces 30 can be secured therein. Cover .56 can includea tab 57 which can be used to allow a user to grasp and then lift cover56 off of receptacle 40. Cover 56 can be used to help contain gamepieces or game elements 30 so that these elements do not fall out.

Once the cover has been removed, the individual game pieces can beremoved. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 each of theseindividual compartments have at least one recessed or indented sectionwhich allows a user to reach in and lift out these individual sections.For example, as shown in FIG. 4, spinner compartment 42 can contain asemicircular region 42 a which allows a user to insert a finger insideof that region to lift out spinner 32. The other compartments can alsoinclude this feature as well. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, thefollowing compartments 38 a, 38 b, 38 c, 38 d each have a respectiveassociated indent 47 a, 47 b, 47 c, 47 d and 49 a which can be used toallow access to these pieces. In addition, compartments 44 a, 44 b, 44c, and 44 d have associated indents 45 a, 45 b, 45 c to allow a useraccess to cards 34.

Coupled to housing 12 is a plurality of pages forming a book or booklet60 which can be coupled to inside face 16 a of cover 16 in any knownmanner. For example, there can be a spiral binding 66 which is coupledto inside face 16 b and also couples pages 64 to inside face 16 a. Todifferentiate between the different sections in this book 60, there area plurality of tabs 62 which allow a user to pick different sections.This book can be used to supply game rules or a story, as well asprovide an interactive interface for a user so that the user can writein the book with either of the two writing instruments. For example,pages 64 can be laminate pages which allow a user to write on thesepages with erasable marker 36 a. Erasable marker 36 a can also includean eraser 36 c which allows a user to erase any of the erasable markerwriting in this book.

There is also an additional writing surface or book 70 which can be inthe form of a book which allows a user to sign-in and write with eitherone of the writing instruments such as with writing instrument orerasable marker 36 a or with instrument or pencil 36 b. Writing surfaceor book 70 can be stored inside of a container 72 which can be in theform of a pouch made from any known material such as plastic.

Book 70 slides in and out of pouch 72 via an opening in pouch 72. Asshown in FIG. 2 this book 70 can be accessible from the pouch such thata semicircular cut out can be formed in pouch 72 so that it is easier toslide a book outside of this pouch 72.

FIG. 5 shows a top cross sectional view through line I-I (See FIG. 1) ofhousing 12 in its closed form. This view shows that additional cover 50can be disposed or embedded in a cut out 57 of spine 18 via arms 58 suchthat at least a portion of cover 50 is viewable from an outside regionsuch as shown in FIG. 7. In addition, FIG. 5 also shows that front cover14 has at least one cut out section 59 which allows spinner 32 to beseen from an outside region as shown in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 5 also shows how closure 80 works with the book in its closed form.Closure 80 is shown in FIG. 1 and in greater detail in FIG. 3. Forexample, closure 80 can include a first closure element 82 and a secondclosure element 84, wherein first closure element 82 can be in the formof a foldable section of front cover 14 along crease or hinge 85, whilesecond closure element 84 can be in the form of a foldable section ofback cover 16 along crease or hinge 87. A magnet or magnetic material 86can be disposed inside of first closure element 82 while a second magnetor magnetic material 88 can be disposed inside of second closure element84. Once housing 12 is closed, these closure elements 82 and 84 can befolded up adjacent to each other so that the magnetic properties ofelements 86 and 88 react to form a magnetic connection, thus selectivelyclosing the book. Once closed, the magnetic connection can be weakenough to allow most users to easily move one closing element away froman adjacent closing element to open the book.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show another embodiment of the invention 100 which caninclude a book 110, a side sliding game board 120, with a receptacle orcontainer 140 attached to the board. For example, FIG. 8 shows thedevice in its open form, FIG. 9 shows a front view of the device in theclosed form while FIG. 10 shows a back view in this closed form. Thiscontainer or receptacle 140 can be used to hold a plurality of gamepieces 130. To cover container 140, there can be a cover 142 which canbe slidably coupled to container 140 or coupled to the container via ahinge. With this design, board 120 can slide out from a side edge 116 cof a back cover of a book, wherein this side edge 116 c extends parallelto a spine 118 of the book.

Container or receptacle 140 can be formed integral with game board 120so that it always remains attached to board 120. Conversely, container140 can also be attachable to or detachable from board 120 as well.

In use, the device 100 can be used so that book 110 can be opened sothat associated pages 116 are exposed. In this case, board 120 can slideout to present a board for a board game. Receptacle 140 can be opened sothat game pieces or manipulative elements are removed and then used toplay a game.

For example, in a first embodiment, a user can open book or housing 12,lay it flat in an open position, and then using tab 22, pull out a gameboard 20 from book or housing 12. The user can then unfold game board 20by rotating section 26 via hinge 28 so that both sections 24 and 26 areexposed. Next, the user can open container 40 by removing cover 56 bypulling on tab 57 and then detaching cover 56. The user can then removespinner 32 from its section or holder 42, remove one or more sets ofcards 34, and remove one or more game pieces 38. The user can openadditional container 50 and remove timer 37. At this point, the userscan also remove at least one writing instrument 36 and manipulativeelement 39 (See FIG. 2). Each user can select a playing piece 38 torepresent that player. Once all players are represented, at least one ofthe users spins the spinner 32, wherein a player is selected to proceedwith play. Based upon the results of the spin, that player can choose acard 34 and then answer a question. The answer to the question can bepresented either via spoken voice, writing using a writing instrument36, or by molding or shaping moldable or manipulatable element 39. Thewriting can occur on a separate sheet of paper or on page 64 of book orbooklet 60. In addition, the writing can be on the spinner such as theback surface of the spinner as well.

The game can then proceed until based upon the rules, a desired resultis achieved. For example, after successfully answering a question, auser can proceed to move his or her playing piece to a differentlocation on a game board.

With the second embodiment, the user can open a book 110, slide out agame board 120 from book 110, and then remove at least one game piece130 from a container 140 coupled to game board 120 to proceed with thegame.

FIG. 11 shows a front perspective view of a third embodiment of theinvention. This design is similar to the design shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.However, this design also includes additional writing instruments suchas pencils 136 a, 136 b, 136 c, and 136 d and an eraser 137 storedadjacent to spinner 32. This design can also include a puzzle 170, whichcan be magnetic, stored in pouch 72, and a sheet of stickers 180 alsostored in pouch 72. This design also includes additional writinginstruments such as pencils 136 a, 136 b, 136 c, and 136 d and an eraser137. These additional optional elements can be used to enhance theinteractivity of a game.

Thus, the invention and its above-identified embodiments can provide-abook and a game combination device which can be easily portable and usedfor game play.

Accordingly, while a few embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, it is to be understood that many changes andmodifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A book and game combination device comprising: a) a housing having afirst cover, a second cover, and a spine wherein said first cover andsaid. second cover are coupled to said spine; b) a board for a boardgame coupled to said housing and being extendable out from said housing;c) at least one container coupled to said housing; and d) a plurality ofgame pieces disposed in said container and being selectively removablefrom said container for use with said board in said board game.
 2. Thedevice as in claim 1, wherein said board is in the form of at least twosections with at least one section foldable over an additional section.3. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a closure coupled tosaid housing wherein said closure is for selectively retaining saidhousing in a closed position.
 4. The device as in claim 1, wherein saidfirst cover has an inside face and an outside face, and wherein saidcontainer is coupled to an inside face of said first cover.
 5. Thedevice as in claim 1, wherein said container is in the form of a blisterpack and includes separate compartments for organizing and storing saidplurality of game pieces and includes a cover for selectively coveringsaid plurality of game pieces in said container.
 6. The device as inclaim 1, wherein said board is coupled to said housing in a slidablemanner.
 7. The device as in claim 2, wherein said board is coupled tosaid second cover of said housing.
 8. The device as in claim 1, whereinsaid plurality of game pieces comprise a plurality of cards in at leastone stack.
 9. The device as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of gamepieces comprise at least one playing piece.
 10. The device as in claim1, wherein said plurality of game pieces comprise at least one spinner.11. The device as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of game piecescomprise at least one writing instrument.
 12. The device as in claim 1,wherein said plurality of game pieces comprise at least one interactiveelement in the form of a malleable material.
 13. The device as in claim1, wherein said plurality of game pieces comprise at least one timer.14. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pagesthat are coupled to said housing and at least one divider coupled tosaid housing wherein said plurality of pages are divided into. at leasttwo different sections by said at least one divider.
 15. The device asin claim 1, further comprising at least one book coupled to saidhousing.
 16. The device as in claim 2, further comprising at least oneadditional container coupled to said housing.
 17. The device as in claim16, wherein said spine has a recess for receiving said at least oneadditional container so that said at least one additional container isvisible in an outer surface of said spine.
 18. A book and gamecombination device comprising: a) a housing having a front cover, a backcover and a spine; b) a plurality of pages coupled to said housing; c)at least one container coupled to said housing; d) a playing surfacecoupled to said housing; e) a plurality of game pieces disposed in saidat least one container and being selectively removable from said atleast one container for use with a game which is associated with saidplurality of pages.
 19. A process for playing a game comprising thefollowing steps: providing a housing having a first cover a second coverand a spine with said first cover and said second cover being coupled tosaid spine; providing a playing surface coupled to said housing;providing a container coupled to said housing; providing a plurality ofgame pieces removably disposed in said container; opening said housing;presenting said playing surface; opening said container; and removing atleast one of said playing pieces from said container to start the game.20. The process as in claim 19, wherein said step of presenting saidplaying surface further comprises presenting a game board by slidingsaid game board out from said housing.
 21. The process as in claim 19,wherein said step of providing a plurality of game pieces furthercomprises providing at least one timer, and wherein the process furthercomprises the step of removing said timer from said at least onecontainer and starting said timer.
 22. The process as in claim 19,wherein said step of providing a plurality of game pieces includesproviding at least one spinner, and wherein the process furthercomprises the steps of removing said spinner from said container andspinning said spinner to select a player in the game.
 23. The process asin claim 19, wherein said step of providing a plurality of game piecesincludes providing a plurality of cards, wherein the process furthercomprises the steps of removing at least one card from said at least onecontainer and then answering a question disposed on said at least onecard.
 24. The process as in claim 23, wherein said step of answering aquestion includes writing an answer on a piece of paper.
 25. The processas in claim 23, wherein said step of answering a question furthercomprises molding a malleable substance in response to said question.26. The process as in claim 23, further comprising the steps ofproviding at least one playing piece, and moving said at least oneplaying piece to a different location on said game board if a questionis answered correctly.